MMA I think is at a turning point. An ever growing spectacle of a modern blood sport, a mishmash of fundamental fighting skills of various fighting arts thrown together to brawl toe to toe slugging it out as the blood flows with each slug of the fist. Where spooning ground work results in tight chokes cutting off the blood and air to the victim.

What the ancient Romans may have scoffed at nothing more then play. But modern fans hail MMA glory as the ultimate way to fight. Modern MMA fan's are generally split in two groups, those who want the current rules stripped away so the event is more "street" equating to more blood and brutality. Whereas the other group of weaker stomachs what rules, equating to less blood so that it is more palatable/technical to watch.

This divide is growing among many MMA fans as it is becoming a more dominate topic in the MMA internet world. And for very good reason. The rules fan camp enjoys MMA with the reality show, and Pro wrestling sprinkles, and the moderate flowing of blood. The blood lust or the hardcore fan camp feels that MMA is inching toward the theatricals of prowrestling and MMA will loose it's genuineness. They see that MMA to be "pure" must shed its rule and go "street."

When then does MMA become lethal like the real gladiator contest of Rome where the loser died in a pool of blood. Where the fans are morbidly excited to see a spectatular exciting death match where the blood flows feely and the respect for human life isn't. At this point even if with less rules MMA doesn't compare to the blood lust of its hard core fans. MMA is considered to be "real", "honest" etc. but not to its blood thirsty fans, some of which are demanding MMA to be "real" and "honest" more blood must flow.

Where does it stop? Where does the human cockfighting end. Have we not learned anything from the ancient Romans, that such excess is never enough. That there will never be enough blood to quench their thirsty?

It is funny, we have more respect for animal then for our each other. For instance, cockfighting is illegal, dog fighting is illegal (the Vic case), most any kind of animal fighting is illegal and practice by criminals. Yet, when it comes to human cockfighting, it is broadcasted illegally to a huge fan base. When will human cockfighting be more than a bloodly tease, or will the purist fan get what they are thristy for more blood and more disregard for human beings, or will they get the ultimate fight, the one where the witness death?

Buck

10-05-2008, 01:22 AM

I timed out in my editing window. This reads a bit better.

MMA I think is at a turning point. An ever growing spectacle of a modern blood sport, a mishmash of fundamental fighting skills of various fighting arts thrown together to brawl toe to toe slugging it out as the blood flows with each slug of the fist. Where spooning ground work results in tight chokes cutting off the blood and air to the victim. Where mounting isn't a sexual position but a dangerous onslaught of wild fists and elbows smash down upon a victim.

What the ancient Romans may have scoffed at today's MMA as being nothing more then play. But modern fans hail MMA glory as the ultimate fight, the real deal.. Modern MMA fan's are generally split in two groups, those who want the current rules stripped away so the event is more "street" equating to more blood and brutality. Whereas the other group of weaker stomachs what rules, equating to less blood so that it is more palatable/technical to watch, as the pre-fight posturing entertainment.

This divide is growing among many MMA fans as it is becoming a more dominate topic in the MMA internet world. And for very good reason. The rules fan camp enjoys MMA with the reality show, and Pro wrestling sprinkles, and the moderate flowing of blood. The blood lust or the hardcore fan camp feels that MMA is inching toward the theatricals of prowrestling and MMA will loose it's genuineness. They see that MMA to be "pure" must shed its rules and go "street."

When then does MMA become lethal like the real gladiator contest of Rome where the loser died in a pool of blood. Where the fans are morbidly excited to see a spectatular exciting death match where the blood flows feely and the respect for human life isn't. At this point even if with less rules MMA doesn't compare to the blood lust of its hard core fans. MMA is considered to be "real", "honest" etc. but not to its blood thirsty fans, some of which are demanding MMA to be "real" and "honest" more blood must flow.

Where does it stop? Where does the human cockfighting end. Have we not learned anything from the ancient Romans, that such excess is never enough. That there will never be enough blood to quench the thirsty?

It is funny, we have more respect for animals then for ourselves or each other. For instance, cockfighting is illegal, dog fighting is illegal (the Vic case), most any kind of animal fighting is illegal and practiced by criminals. Yet, when it comes to human cockfighting, it is broadcasted illegally to a huge fan base. It is popular legal stuff. When will human cockfighting be more than a bloodly tease, will the purist fan get what they are thristy for more blood and more disregard for human beings, the ultimate fight, the one where they witness death?

Buck

10-05-2008, 09:33 AM

MMA has pushed the envelop but how far. We have gone past the once considered brutal sport of boxing, the "gentlemen's sport." MMA isn't even close to be calling a gentlemen's sport. If it was it would be an insult to MMA and its fans. MMA fan's, and amateurs in the sport stand on a platform of it being "real." But how real do they want it. As I said before, there is a fan base that wants all the rules removed to make it "street." For all MMA fans blood flow is something that is attractive to all MMA fans. It makes it real and exciting. Something rare in past contact sports. Well real blood drawn from real strikes, and not self induced unseen cuts on the forehead seen in pro wrestling stunts.

The fight promoters are well aware of what their consumer's want, blood. But is society ready for blood fights? Will the states allow it, will the media push it? All in and effort to numb and desensitize the public. Perhaps, more blood will flow in the future. We just have to look at the raise of MMA over the years. MMA got a lot of resistance but over time that resistance has given way to acceptance and is becoming one of the most popular sports. It already has put a rear naked choke on boxing, MMA has surpassed in popularity all other sport martials art, as it has gone where no other martial art has gone before. Will the pressure of more blood, "street" MMA fans get what they want?

Yes, maybe not over night, but perhaps over time. Maybe in 20 years we will see a morphed MMA that makes today's MMA look like a stroll in the park. The future if we judge it on the past will be more bloody and brutal. The future will be driven by fans who want more. A society even more desensitized to blood and violence, a future something hailed by the ancient Roman's thirst for blood. A time where the word gladiator isn't used by sportsmen, but regains its true meaning.

Buck

10-05-2008, 11:04 AM

I remember when in the 1990s BJJ/UFC appealed to me because the Gracies used jujitsu and where good at it. It was a marvel of technical display of ground fighting jujitsu. It was clean, crisp and accurate compared to today. A walk in the park.

Today, some 20 years later what the Gracies introduced has become really MMAs. And with that is the loss of technical skill for bloody ground and pound moments. Moments that really don't need skill to finish. Or the lock down moments where fighters are embarrassed in stale-mates on the ground because they lack good technical jujitsu skills.

MMA today is moving away from the technical to a less but more exciting pound and smash that draws more blood. It is far more exciting for MMA fans to see a nose bleed then a good bloodless submission hold.

MMA fighters on a technical basis are gravitating to brawling and leaving the high tech moves behind. It takes too long to learn proper jujitsu when a few moves will work, it takes too long to learn proper boxing skills, when you can learn to slug in a matter of a few quick lessons. And most of all the fans don't want technical skill they want a brawl with bloodily results. The rawness is more exciting to watch and is easier to live vicariously through your fighter for fans. All the technical stuff is boring to watch, no blood, no humiliation, and it is way too hard.

MMA is in change, it is moving away from the good sophisticated martial arts technical skills in favor of less technical skills of street brawling for blood. It is moving toward what fans want, more blood.

Buck

10-05-2008, 06:20 PM

If the fans get what they want, more blood, meaning less rules, meaning more serious injury to fighters will they be willing to enter the ring for greater risks of permanent injury for more money and bragging rights? But the fans would love it, seeing a broken bone jetting out of the skin with sprays of blood everywhere.

Now the question is, are the promoters willing to take that risk. One of the greatest barriers to this is the law suits. Next is public opinion which is easier to change than a law suit.

What drives MMA like any other sport is the fans. Currently, there is a group of hardcore fans who want MMA to be real. They see it sliding into the realm of pro-wrestling antics losing its real-ness. These hardcore "traditional" fans what more blood and less pazza, less showmanship.They want less rules, they want "street" real MMA. The other group of fans they really are no different then the hardcore fans when it comes to seeing blood drawn that is what these two fans groups have in common. These fans are ok with the rules, they like the showmanship and reality marketing of MMA. Like the TapOut guys. Both group of fans drive the professional MMA sport and our thirsty for only one thing, blood. Fans in the end will win, as boredom sets in and the bar is risen higher puts pressure on the promoters and fighters to deliver enough blood to satisfy those fans.

Buck

10-05-2008, 07:15 PM

With the advent of the CBS and the late Elite XC "we all knew he was" Kimbo Slice was exposed as a fraud. With this "event" I predict that the hardcore MMA fans will win. This "event" was nothing more then a Pro Wrestling spectacle with the exception of minor MMA leaguer Seth Petruzelli had no script. All he did was to warm up on Kimbo that knocked Slice out in 14 seconds. A huge disappointment for all MMA fans (a small amount of blood and the over-hype and amateur color and interviewing), and a huge reason for MMA to go less of a production and more of a fight that draws audiences and more blood.

After the Kimbo "Lemon" Slice fight there are more hardcore MMA fans wanting less rules, less hype, and more blood letting fists.

Keith Larman

10-05-2008, 07:23 PM

You do realize that you appear to be having a conversation with yourself over a rather long period of time...